CLIENT
Done + Dusted
LOCATION
Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
YEAR
2025
PROJECT TYPE
Opening Ceremony & Sports Presentation
Scope
Full audio systems design and delivery for the ceremony and broadcast
Services Provided
- →Audio Systems Design
- →FOH Mix Engineering
- →Broadcast Mix Engineering
- →Replay Operation
The Brief
The UAEFA President’s Cup Final is one of the most prestigious football events in the region. Tasked by Done + Dusted, we were brought in from the concept stage to deliver a world-class audio experience for the opening ceremony, one that matched the creative ambition of the production while respecting the constraints of a live sporting environment.
A key priority was fan engagement. The audience experience had to be powerful and uniformly distributed across every seat, despite the acoustically unforgiving stadium setting and a highly compressed schedule.
The Challenge
As with many stadium ceremonies, time was against us. Between tight rehearsal windows, preserving the pristine football pitch, and minimising disruption to the surrounding venues, including a maternity hospital and residential facilities, there was very little time for tuning or troubleshooting on-site.
The venue’s steep bowl geometry added further acoustic complexity, particularly in the upper tiers, while pressure mounted from all sides to execute a seamless transition between sport and spectacle.
Our Approach
Working closely with the team from Done + Dusted, we shaped the audio strategy from the earliest creative conversations. Understanding that time would be short and content updates would continue up to show day, we proposed a pragmatic stems approach to audio replay, broad enough for flexibility, but light enough to keep pace with last-minute content tweaks.
We modelled the stadium using L-Acoustics Soundvision to optimise loudspeaker placement and array angles, particularly for the elevated seating sections. The sound design focused on clarity and consistency, making sure fans at the top tier received the same compelling experience as those pitch-side.
To allow the audio system to be deployed and removed swiftly, all loudspeakers were mounted on mobile carts, rolled on post-warm-up and off again immediately after the ceremony with an expertly choreographed manoeuvre by the crew.
Technical Highlights:
Audio Design
Dual DiGiCo Quantum 7 consoles (dual-redundant mirrored pair with one engine each)
AVB and Optocore distribution
16 mobile array positions featuring L-Acoustics K2 and SB28, deployed around the Field of Play
Cardioid subwoofer configuration to reduce low-frequency spill from the opposing side of the field
KARA II fills used to cover the SE and SW corners
Additional front fill support using X8 and X12
Thorough predictive modelling for array configurations and tuning to maximise the small window of on-site tuning
System Totals:
70x K2
32x SB28
8x KARA II
7x X8
2x X12
Powered by LA12X amplifiers
The Results
Despite the immense pressure and narrow windows for system setup, tuning, and rehearsals, the audio delivery was executed flawlessly. The ceremony experience was powerful, intimate, and balanced, directing audience attention to the action on the pitch and creating a unified atmosphere across the entire stadium.
The live mix was clean and impactful, with smooth broadcast integration and zero technical issues during the show. The production was a testament to the collaborative efforts of every department, working in precision under tight constraints.
Acknowledgements
Our Client
Big thanks to Phil Richmond (Director, Done + Dusted Middle East), Liz Goodyer (Executive Producer), and Shannon Gobell (Technical Director) for the trust and opportunity to help shape such a pivotal event.
Our Team
System design by Scott Willsallen & Ethan Curry, with Ethan Curry on FOH, Ben Milton on Broadcast, and Joe Callister managing replay. A massive team effort in challenging conditions.
Our Supplier
Thanks to PRG for delivering the audio systems, and to all those working behind the scenes to make it happen.
Related Projects
